the slope goes by several names
• average rate of change
• rate of change
• deltaY over deltaX
• Δy over Δx
• rise over run
• gradient
• constant of proportionality
however, is the same cat wearing different costumes.
[tex](\stackrel{x_1}{2009}~,~\stackrel{y_1}{26500})\qquad (\stackrel{x_2}{2012}~,~\stackrel{y_2}{20500}) \\\\\\ \stackrel{slope}{m}\implies \cfrac{\stackrel{rise} {\stackrel{y_2}{20500}-\stackrel{y1}{26500}}}{\underset{run} {\underset{x_2}{2012}-\underset{x_1}{2009}}}\implies \cfrac{-6000}{3}\implies -2000[/tex]